HALIFAX — The Evangeline, a newly refurbished hotel in the heart of the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, has now opened. Formerly known as The Evangeline Inn and Motel, the property was purchased in 2021 by Avram Spatz.
The five-acre property offers 18 rooms that celebrate minimalist design. Some highlights include ceramics from Halifax-based Joel Brodovsky-Adams; bathing amenities from Malin+Goetz; and king-sized cloud beds from Canadian furniture maker, Sundays. Additionally, the Borden House – the childhood home of former Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden – has been fully restored and now features five rentable rooms, a sweeping veranda, a library and a tea room.
Guests can dine at Longfellow restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and features a cozy bar and expansive local and international wine list. Head chef Ray Bear has created a refined menu that showcases seasonal Valley fare. He also offers a unique take on traditional Acadian dishes such as lobster homard, salt-cod cakes and fish chowder.
“I’ve always wanted to cook in the Valley. It’s really the hot spot for food and wine in Nova Scotia. I am very excited to be part of this culinary scene,” says chef Bear.
“The story of Evangeline is so integral to Grand Pré and its history, that keeping the name Evangeline for the property, and naming the restaurant Longfellow (the poet who wrote Evangeline) felt like a perfect way to honour the property’s legacy. Throughout the renovation of the whole property, the guiding principle has been preserving the spirit of the old while carefully integrating the new,” says Spatz. “In the restaurant, that meant preserving the 70-year old checkerboard floor and the famous pies. In the rooms, restoring Borden House and keeping it true to that era and style was a nice balance with the design focused, modern set of spaces we created.”
